Motivation no issue for Western Rams under 18s heading into FIRLA clash at Carrington Park

DIRECTING TRAFFIC: Dubbo CYMS' Bayden Searle will line up at halfback for the Western Rams 18s at Bathurst on Saturday. Photo: CRL

Motivation will be no issue for Cameron Greenhalgh’s under 18s side on Saturday’s as the one-off clash against the Federation Italian Rugby League Australia (FIRLA) may well be last time many players wear the green and white of the Western Rams.

The Rams under 18s will feature as part of a bumper day of Western versus FIRLA action at Bathurst’s Carrington Park.

The bulk of the 18s side was part of the team which took out this season’s Country Championships crown and the chance to record an undefeated season and finish junior careers on a high is what’s driving Greenhalgh and his players.

“A few of the boys will be going away to Sydney to play SG Ball and maybe in the 20s there so this may be the last time they pull on the green and white,” the coach said.

“We spoke about that and they’re all excited to have one more game after winning the Country Championships.

“You can get a bit worried about motivation because some have won grand finals and other have been runners-up and they can think ‘that’s that’ but they’re a good bunch and they love playing footy and it’s a good chance to finish off after the Country Championships and go undefeated.”

The coach confessed he’s not sure what to expect from the FIRLA outfit, which is expected to feature a number of players with SG Ball experience.

The FIRLA under 16s outfit won in last season’s set of fixtures and Greenhalgh said it stands to reason many of those players would now feature in the 18s.

But there’s no doubt the best junior representative side in Country Rugby League (CRL) will start as favourites.